Evidence on the safety of transcranial magnetic stimulation for obsessive-compulsive disorder raises no major safety concerns. However, evidence on its efficacy is inadequate in quantity and quality. Therefore, this procedure should only be used in the context of research. Find out what only in research means on the NICE website.
Research should ideally be in the form of pre-registered, adequately powered, randomised controlled trials. It should report details of patient selection, including the use of concurrent therapies, type, duration and frequency of stimulation, and the intended target in the brain. Outcomes should include improvement in symptoms, quality of life and duration of effect.